I rather think the Viennese favors DomShabs over K&N (and for that matter B&A). They are lovely waltzers.

I hope the dancers realize that a Paso Doble is a fast Two-Step, and not a Tango.

Originally Posted by TtonyV7

Key to note that not only Skate America Ladies field is jam-pack and the US ladies will have it tough. But also it is the 1st event, and expect very surprising results.

There should be a way to utilize strategy better when you think a Silver Medal is waiting for someone in COC.

Originally Posted by nadster

I am sure KVDP would prefer that too. But seeing as he is not from one of the hosting countries , he had no protection whatsoever from the whims of the hosting nations. There was no way that Japan ( the last GP stop) was taking him ( Takahashi factor)

Some Feds know how to play the strategy game.

Originally Posted by Mathman

Do National Federations try to stack the deck to give their own skaters the best chance to win?

I think the bright ones know how to play the game which is simply to get the skater into the FINALS which will bring on the high TV ratings Check out Kostner. Itally knows!! As far as I am concerned she is in the Finals, and that's all there is to that.

So all you people who do not believe that the point of the GPs is to get into the Finals and Win! should be able to see some top skaters have a much better chance than others.
The Finals and only the Finals is the Bring On The Top Skaters, imo.

Only one more thing to mention for me: Is Jenni Vahamaa going to make a statement?

NBC doesn't really seem to care much about figure skating outside of the US/Olympics... I don't see them doing any more with Skate America this year than they did last year... there's just no $$ in it anymore.

They are certainly showing a lot more gymnastics as we near the Beijing Games. I'm sure the same thing will happen to skating come the Winter Olympic year. Next year's SA may get more attention as a result, to lead up to the 2010 Nationals and Olys. Also, I believe next year SA is in late Nov. rather than in October.

hmmm. 6th won't do it for me in a field of 10. I want a 4th or an arguable 5th.

joe

Originally Posted by Red Dog

They are certainly showing a lot more gymnastics as we near the Beijing Games. I'm sure the same thing will happen to skating come the Winter Olympic year. Next year's SA may get more attention as a result, to lead up to the 2010 Nationals and Olys. Also, I believe next year SA is in late Nov. rather than in October.

So this year is out for more coverage. NBC is counting on the Ladies for the ratings. We will see Johnny and Evan definitely, a menton (not seen) of McLauglin/Brubaker, and Belbin and Agosto. JMO.

And some seem to have a problem with the game - why did Canada invite 3 men who could easily beat their World Champion. Lambiel, Lysacek and Voronov! Plus there is Chan, who could also beat Buttle if Buttle has one or two larger mistakes. If Voronov can maintain the kind of consistency he had at Nationals, Euros and Worlds in his long program (+ more toe jumps, he said that he is working on his Lutz again), his chance to beat Buttle is just as good as Lysacek's chance to beat Buttle. Buttle's second GP is China, with Takahashi, Verner and Abbott in the mix. Chan's assignments aren't easy either.

Both Lysacek and Weir seem to have a good chance to qualify for the final - but I got high hopes for Schultheiss. His 3A became kind of consistent last season, he tried the Quad once and is such a beautiful jumper. I also think that his skating skills are just terrific, I hope he works on interpretation and choreography during the summer (his exhibition at Worlds showed that he can be quite a lyrical skater). He should also have gained confidence from coming in 13th at Senior Worlds, just 3 weeks after placing 18th at Junior Worlds.

Takahashi and Joubert (I am going to Paris to watch him and Lambiel battle it out, already booked my ticket today... I am also hoping to get a first hand look at the next generation with Kozuka, Mroz, Guan and Chan) also have good chances to reach the final.

Mirai up against YuNa, Nakano, Ando & Mao in both her events... It look like she has the toughest competition out of any US ladies. Does this mean that USFSA has that much confidence in her?

Well Mirai did have the highest overall ladies SP score last season (remind you that she did get dinged for flutzing and did a loop instead of a flip as her solo triple). So I'd feel pretty confident in her IF she starts rotating all of her triples, which I hope she works on.

Well Mirai did have the highest overall ladies SP score last season (remind you that she did get dinged for flutzing and did a loop instead of a flip as her solo triple). So I'd feel pretty confident in her IF she starts rotating all of her triples, which I hope she works on.

But, wasn't that at the US Nationals where many of the scores were highly inflated & wrong edges/UR were often overlooked?

I would love to see Mirai do well, but I've been hearing that she's having to deal with her growth spurt quite a bit this year.

Then again, Caroline is at the age where she might be much improved from last year.

Caroline has the 3rd highest average score among the ladies in ISU events, only trailing Mao and Yu-Na. Her average score, though, increased only a tiny bit this past season.

Michelle has already told her that she needs to jump bigger. We'll just have to wait to see how much bigger she can jump -- and still improve and solidify that WOW factor that sets her apart from the other ladies.

If L/H were consistent, maybe. But they aren't consistent, especially in the early season. Remember, these are SB scores---L/H's GP scores last season were 156.67 and 145.33. And McLaughlin/Brubaker might have had a higher SB score than 166.48 had they been able to compete at 4CC, JW or Worlds.

While they may not have been the most consistent in the early season, Each season, for them, has been an improvement from the previous one. L/H are almost guaranteed a medal at NHK, and with a little bit of luck, they could medal at Skate Canada. Besides, there's no point looking at season's best scores. Making the GPF is dependent on placement points in each leg of the competition.

And they deserve each invitation. I'm glad that the selectors saw past Poykio's injury. Vahamaa's 2 invites seem questionable if you only look at her seasons best score. It's her high world ranking that reflects her consistency and her Finlandia win.